Chapter 4

You don’t go back down the small gap between the buildings, you’re not really sure where you want to go. In your hands is the package you were sent to deliver. You haven’t been told but you know it’s real and it’s worth is more than you are. You don’t know what to do. You put the package back into your purse and begin to return to your masters house. But you stop. You could buy yourself a life elsewhere. But you continue. You wouldn’t know to do, you could sell it but then how would you start something new. You quicken your pace and it turns to a jog. You’re worried now of any suspicion being aroused, and you’re already behind on time. You start to sprint.

With your mind rushing the time seems to disappear and soon you’re out of breath and jogging, then walking, then picking up the job again before entering the wealthy districts of your masters house. You slow to a quickened but casual pace. You go down an alley and then reach that leads to the back of all the houses down the long avenue. It’s where all the servants enter and you pass a few that you know, nodding at each.

A woman from your masters house is coming up and she smiles when she sees you.

“You’re being called Ayeston. Lady wants to see you.”

You become nervous, you think with your sprint you haven’t taken too long but perhaps you’re wrong.

“She’s been waiting for you ever since you left, you must have something eager for her.”

“I don’t know why,” you say, holding the purse stiffly in your hand.

“Well you better go see her as soon as you get in anyway.”

“I will, thanks.”

You pass each other and soon you’re standing by the door that leads to your masters house. You go to enter but a thought crosses your mind and you take the package from your purse and slip it into a pocket inside your shirt.

This narrator almost forget an essential point, the lady cannot find the ring and of course she would think to check his purse. But this story would take a very different turn if the lady finds the ring, and that is not a turn they would like it to take. So the ring must be put in a safer place and the only place safer now than the inside of one’s shirt is down one’s pants, and even then that may not be entirely safe with the way this lady likes to go.

The door is open as it always is during the day and you walk through. To the left is the kitchen and when you pass you see it empty. You continue down the dirty hall. It wouldn’t be hard to get some water and a brush to the floor but at the end of the day once everyone has done their duties, no one wants to clean the hall that only the servants will use. You go through the door at the end of the hall you’ve reached the part of the house that actually gets cleaned.

You stop the first maid you see.

“Where’s our lady?”

“She’s taking tea in her window room. She’s looking for you you know.”

You nod, you know.

On your way to the window room you begin to walk slowly, then hasten as you realise you’re beginning to think too far into it. You don’t know what she’s going to say, and even if you did you wouldn’t know what the right response was. Any speculations are mere guesses and you’re turning your mind into a turmoil.

You reach the window room, so named for the wall of clear glass that faces the small garden at the side of the house. It was barely anything to be called a garden, and the building next door could clearly be seen not far away. But to have space that could be used purely for decoration was a luxury and one that would be showed off.

You knock.

“Come in.”

Straight away you push the door open and enter.

She’s sitting right by the windows, close enough to tap the glass. She’s wearing the blue gown she always wears when new young men are over, the one that when she first wore all the maids giggled that it was too small but you couldn’t see anything wrong.

As she looks at you you see it now.

“Did you deliver the package to Mr Morgan.”

“Yes ma’am. He returns his thanks.”

You feel her gazing at your purse and you wonder if there’s a way you could swing it to show that it’s empty without seeming suspicious. You remain still.

“Did he open it?”

Already you’re thrown off guard.

“Yes ma’am.” It’s the truth after all, and perhaps the truth is easier to lie about.

“Did he like it?”

You pause. “He appeared to appreciate it.”

She’s eyeing you up again and you can feel the package weighing down your shirt. It’s as if everything is pointing to it, even the handle of her teacup.

Then she sighs and looks out the window.

“I need a letter written, fetch Malcole for me.”

“Ma’am Malcole is not here today.”

She looks exasperated. “Of course, I do remember that. You can write can’t you?”
You have learnt from here and there over the years, but your hand isn’t very good.

“I can fetch someone else for you-”

“That will take too long to find someone, I’ve seen you write before, come here.”

Beside her there is already a table set up for the letter to be written and you take a seat.

“Be sure to be neat,” she cautions.

“I’ll do as well as I can ma’am.”

She smiles, but it’s a dry flash.

“Dear Mister Morgan.” She begins, and you hastily put ink to the page.

“I have been made very glad to hear that the ring has reached you safely and that it has been appreciated.”

In your fear you wonder if she’s aiming this at you but she continues smoothly.

“Since the grievances of your late wife, for which my husband and I give our greatest sympathies,  I am afraid we have seen very little of you. I would like to invite you to dine with us tomorrow evening. We look forward to a meeting at some time. Yours sincerely Lady Evelyn. P.S. I have been talking to my husband about the ring for some time but was terribly sorry to realise I sent it off without him ever seeing it. If it is of no trouble may the ring be brought to his eyes.

You take the ink from the page and look at your handiwork. It’s messy, but it’s eligible. She’s leaning over you to look at it.

“Yes I suppose that will do. Once the ink has dried, take it over.”

“Yes ma’am.”

She rises and you stand.

“You are a good man.” She gives you one last look, and you resist the temptation to shrink back. But then she turns, and walks out of the room and your body is in relief. She doesn’t know.